From Pentecostal to Catholic: A pastor’s story

As a former Pentecostal pastor, Alex Jones has paid a steep price to become a Catholic, but the title of his book, “No Price Too High,” expresses the depth of commitment to his new faith.

Charita M. Goshay

As a former Pentecostal pastor, Alex Jones has paid a steep price to become a Catholic, but the title of his book, “No Price Too High,” expresses the depth of commitment to his new faith.
The Detroit resident spoke recently at the Living Bread Radio 1060 AM annual banquet. Located in the St. Raphael bookstore at 4365 Fulton Dr. NW, Living Bread Radio is the region’s only Catholic radio station.
Noting that most Christians know very little about early church history, Jones said it was study of the writings of such early church fathers as Sts. Augustine, Ignatius, Clement, Polycarp, Justin Martyr and others that led him to the conclusion that the Catholic Church is the true Body of Christ.
“These were men who actually heard the apostles preach,” he said.
Jones’ conversion in 2001 was a serious theological and cultural departure from the church in which he was raised, which emphasizes the (spiritual) baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in other tongues, spiritual gifts, and what Jones calls a “holiness code.”
“Holiness means ‘totally other than the world,’” Jones said. “It’s a certain way of dress, of speech, conduct, even diet. It’s refraining from being ostentatious; you seek anonymity. When it comes to holiness, Pentecostal and holiness people have some things exactly right, but the Catholic Church defines holiness differently. It’s exemplifying the love of Christ and living out that love.”
Cultural Barriers
Jones said American blacks generally have not been attracted to Catholicism because it’s rooted in European traditions -- Irish, French, Polish, German and Italian -- whose practitioners were more interested helping their communities than evangelizing. However, Catholicism in the Third World, particularly in Africa, with 130 million members, is exploding.
“There are more people of color in the Catholic Church than there are whites,” said Jones, who recently visited Ghana. “I’ve been to Africa. It’s (worship) totally different. It’s a celebration.”
Jones said his search initially led him to the Orthodoxy, but that he felt led by God to join the Catholic Church.
In 1054, an ecumenical split known as the “Great Schism” resulted in the formation of the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox Church in the East.
“I still have a very deep love for Orthodoxy,” he said. “I see them as one church, in two places. It’s just culture and politics that have separated them.”
Jones’ conversion sparked deep conflict within his family and his own Church of God congregation. His mother died in disagreement with his decision.
His wife, Donna, initially thought he was having a nervous breakdown, but eventually she, and 54 people, including their three adult sons, followed Jones. But even today, Jones’ relationship with some people, including his cousins, the Winans, is strained.
Living Authority
Jones contends that all churches spring from Catholicism.
“All Christian churches share the same faith and baptism, but they’re just not in full union with the church,” he said. “All that we have as Christians came out of Catholicism.”
Jones calls the church a living organism which rests upon a “three-legged stool” of Scripture, tradition and “magisterium” or teaching authority.
“The Bible is not the final authority, the church is,” he said. “Even the Bible says so in 1 Timothy 3:15. The church changes in accordance to the needs and times, “It’s a living authority.”
Jones said that while Protestants “are children of God, their churches are not really churches, but “ecclesial organizations.”
“There’s only one church,” he said.
Jones has paid a high price for his faith. Though Catholicism permits married converted clergymen to be priests, Jones’ bishop has denied his request because he doesn’t want married priests in his diocese.
A retired director of a diocesan evangelization outreach, Jones serves as a deacon and helps conduct retreats and does speaking engagements.
“Giving up the ministry was difficult because I didn’t know how I was going to live,” he said.
“The people who joined with me, still call me ‘pastor.’ Now I have different ministry; it’s the Lord’s ministry. ... I loved being a Pentecostal and Evangelical. It as one of the best time of my life. I learned how to pray and trust God, read the Scriptures and raise my family in the love of God.
“But I feel like I’ve stepped out of a 4-by-4 closet with a 40-watt bulb, into a courtyard at noon. It’s about the fullness of faith.”
On the Net: www.deaconalexcjones.com
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